Cardinals elect new pope

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from The Washington Post articles "New Pope Benedict XVI Announced" and "Ratzinger's Challenge". Silver Chips Online posts these news summaries to provide readers with a forum for discussion.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was elected pope on Tuesday by the Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. He was elected after two days of deliberation subsequent to Pope John Paul II's death 17 days ago.

Bells rang in St. Peter's Square as Ratzinger, 78, became the first German pope since the 11th century. Known as one of the most conservative members of the Vatican, Ratzinger has often defended the traditional doctrine of the church, especially on social issues, according to The Washington Post.

Last August, he sent a letter to Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington, recommending that the cardinal deny pro-choice congregants Communion and not support any political candidates who believe in abortion rights. Ratzinger also drew criticism when he recommended that Turkey not be admitted to the European Union because of its ties to Islam.

According to The Washington Post, Ratzinger has also taken a conservative stance on social issues such as homosexuality, which he believes is evil. He also feels that feminism often causes fights between men and women. He strongly opposes cloning, calling it a form of "weapons of mass destruction."

Ratzinger was always considered a strong candidate for the papacy because he was close to John Paul II and gained support as the old pope grew weaker. Ratzinger was almost a clear winner for the papacy in everything but his age. He is the oldest person to become pope in history and took the name Pope Benedict XVI.